Community's first settlers date to 1789

By laurenne ramsdell

news@fosters.com

fosters.com

By laurenne ramsdell

news@fosters.com

Posted Jul. 27, 2014 at 3:15 AM

By laurenne ramsdell

news@fosters.com

Posted Jul. 27, 2014 at 3:15 AM

PORTSMOUTH — According to George Sherman's “History of Temple Israel,” Portsmouth's first Jewish residents were Abraham and Rachel Isaac. The two arrived from Prussia and settled in the quaint seaside community in 1789.

“The exact date or reason for their coming to Portsmouth is unknown,” wrote Sherman.

Although he arrived in Portsmouth with no profession or trade, Abraham Isaac would go on to open a store that sold household items such as shawls, gloves, hats, cloth, powder, playing cards and handkerchiefs.

“The low prices drew many customers from all areas of the town, making the Isaac's store a success,” wrote Sherman.

As practicing Jews, the Isaacs kept their store closed on the Sabbath and on Jewish holy days.

By 1900, a group of about 16 Jewish families had settled in Portsmouth in an area along the water known as the Puddledock area. This part of town is currently known as Strawbery Banke.

According to Barney Share, current congregational president of Temple Israel, many of Portsmouth's earliest Jewish residents were drawn to the area's robust shipbuilding industry.

“Many who came were skilled tailors who could easily apply their trade to sailmaking,” said Share.

Although much of the settlers' time was spent working as tailors, cobblers, peddlers, junk dealers and shopkeepers, they tried hard to maintain Jewish traditions.

“These Eastern European Jews came from a strong Jewish orthodox background, and prayers were important to them,” wrote Sherman.

At this point in time, there was no synagogue established in Portsmouth, so the residents would meet as a minyan, or group of 10 adult Jewish men over the age of 13, in private homes. Sherman notes that one of the most popular homes used for such meetings was that of Menashe Polimer located at 16 Myrtle Avenue. Another home belonging to Harry Sussman of Islington Street was also used for these gatherings.

For ritual immersions, some of Portsmouth's Jewish residents would utilize mikvahs, or ritual baths, constructed in some homes. According to Martin, records indicate less than a handful of homes in the area contained mikvahs.

When a visit to a mikvah was not an option for those in need of cleansing, they would pay a visit to a natural body of water such as a lake, river or the ocean.

Share noted that many Jewish residents would utilize Pierce Island for ritual immersion — a place they referred to as Palestine Beach.

Senter said he prefers to use a natural resource such as a beach during his cleansing rituals.

“I think it's a beautiful practice to use one of God's creations,” said Senter.

In 1905, when Morris Port moved to Portsmouth from Newburyport, Mass., he began to organize fellow Jewish members of the community in hopes of establishing a synagogue.

“Having a place to worship is the top of the pyramid in Jewish culture,” said Share.

A group of elected officials decided to rent rooms on the second floor of what is now 252 State St., serving as Portsmouth's first synagogue. The name of this new synagogue was Temple of Israel.

Temple of Israel was the third synagogue established in the state of New Hampshire, preceded by two synagogues in Manchester.

The first order of business for the group was to find and appoint a religious leader. After placing an advertisement in Jewish newspapers based out of Boston and New York, a New York man by the name of Harry Liberson responded and was immediately hired. Aside from serving as a religious leader, Liberson taught Hebrew school, prepared boys for their bar mitzvahs, served as a shochet (ritual slaughterer) and mohel (performed circumcisions), and opened Portsmouth's first kosher butcher shop.

In 1910, Temple of Israel drafted and accepted a set of bylaws to operate. In doing so, the temple became a legal religious group recognized by the city, county and state.

Although the congregation was pleased with the advancements they had made toward recognizing Jewish culture and traditions in Portsmouth, another problem still needed to be addressed.

According to the Temple Israel website, Jewish residents who had passed away before 1908 were buried in Somersworth because there was no Jewish cemetery located in Portsmouth. After appointing a committee to purchase suitable land in Portsmouth, a Jewish cemetery was built on an acre of land on what is now known as Banfield Road. This property became known as Temple of Israel Cemetery, with its first burial taking place in 1908.

By 1911, Portsmouth's Jewish community had grown large enough that the Temple's committee began seeking out a facility that would accommodate the growing congregation and could be used as a proper synagogue. At this same time, the First Methodist Church located on State Street had been put up for sale. After some negotiating, Temple of Israel purchased the building for $7,000.

Festivities including a parade and speeches as the community began the process of converting the former church building to a synagogue.

“The transfer from the old to the new was carried out with a grand display of joy and pride by the Jewish community,” wrote Sherman. “...The Portsmouth Jewish community had finally achieved its dream of possessing a synagogue housed in its own building.”

According to Rabbi Senter, there were many more men than women who were part of the Temple of Israel congregation in its earliest days. This is made clear by the layout of the synagogue, as the main area where the men were seated is much larger than the “ladies gallery” located in the balcony.

“Men were much more present at services,” said Senter.

Although a few renovations have taken place at Temple Israel over the past century, much of the synagogue still features original components. Specifically, the dark wooden pews are those that were built into the First Methodist Church before the Temple's purchase of the building more than 100 years ago.

When Portsmouth Naval Shipyard increased its production during World War I, many Jewish families moved to the Puddledock area to work at the shipyard. Sherman noted that a number of these new residents also opened businesses that catered to the Navy personnel who were stationed in the area.

“Many of them remained and joined the congregation, raising the membership of Temple of Israel to some seventy-five families,” wrote Sherman.

Local Jewish families were actively engaged in movements against the oppression and death of Jews in Europe and Asia.

According to Sherman's publication, Portsmouth's Jewish community held a three-day bazaar in May 1918 to benefit the Jewish Relief Fund in hopes of helping the Jews living in war zones in Russia and the Balkans. In less than a year, the Jewish community of Portsmouth had raised $9,250 for the relief fund — the second largest contribution in the state of New Hampshire.

By 1920, the congregation had been utilizing the State Street property as the home of Temple Israel for eight years and decided it was time for renovations. After raising funds and taking out a mortgage, a new ark was built, the cupola that houses the former First Methodist Church bell was removed, new lights were hung, the vestry was divided into classroom space, a kitchen was installed and the building was painted white.

To honor the newly renovated temple, more than 600 Jews from Portsmouth as well as neighboring communities gathered for a rededication ceremony.

Over the next 70 years, more and more young Jewish couples moved to Portsmouth and the surrounding communities to raise their families. By 1992, the city of Portsmouth's Jewish community had grown to about 1,000 residents, increasing the congregation at Temple of Israel to more than 725 members.

“The Portsmouth Jewish community has changed from the early immigrants, peddlers, junk men, tailors, cobblers and shopkeepers, to a new group of professionals, executives and entrepreneurs,” wrote Sherman. “ ... As the Portsmouth Jewish community continues to grow, there will be more contributions to the administration, economy, and progress of the city of Portsmouth.”